There are several different types of acne, depending on how or why the acne developed. Some of the forms of acne are: acne conglobata (chronic boils); acne fulminans (an extreme form of conglobata); acne cosmetica (caused by cosmetics); acne keloidalis nuchae (from shaving); acne medicamentosa (caused by starting or stopping a medication); acne rosacea (redness on the face); baby acne; hormonal acne; cloracne and the common variety, acne vulgaris (also known as \’puberty spots\’). In this article, we will concentrate on acne vulgaris.

Acne vulgaris may be defined as: \’an inflammatory disease of the skin, caused by changes in the pilosebaceous units (skin structures consisting of a hair follicle and its associated sebaceous gland). Acne lesions are commonly referred to as pimples, spots or zits\’ (from Wikipedia).

Acne is most often found in Western teenagers, although it does occur in every country in the world, so there may be a genetic weakness to it. It is possible that it may be an abnormal reaction to quite normal levels of testosterone. For most sufferers, the condition lasts only until adulthood, probably only a few years or at most ten. For others, however, it can be a life-long recurring affliction. It usually affects the face, upper-chest, upper-arms and back. However, an occasional spot is not the same as acne.

Acne vulgaris appears in various ways, which include: whiteheads, resulting from pores which are totally blocked, trapping sebum (oil), bacteria, and dead skin cells, resulting in a white spot on the surface; blackheads, resulting from pores which are only partially blocked, allowing some of the trapped sebum, bacteria, and dead skin cells to slowly drain to the surface (the black colour is not caused by dirt, but is a reaction of the skin\’s own pigment, called melanin, with the oxygen in the air); papules, which are inflamed, red, tender bumps with no head and pustules, which are like whiteheads, but are inflamed, and look like red circles with a white or yellow centre.

Whiteheads do not often last long; blackheads can last a long time and pustules are what people call spots. Severe acne vulgaris is distinguished by nodules and cysts. A \’nodule\’ is a much larger and more painful sort of pustule and can sometimes last for months. Nodules are large, hard lumps under the skin\’s surface. They often result in scarring and should never be squeezed, which could cause them to last for months longer still.

A \’cyst\’ can appear like a nodule, but it is pus-filled, and has been defined as having a diameter of at least 5mm and, again, can leave scars and cause pain. Squeezing an acne cyst may cause a deeper infection and more painful inflammation which will last very much longer than if it had been left alone. Dermatologists have ways of lessening swelling and preventing scarring with both nodules and cysts. It is a myth that acne sufferers are not careful about their hygiene.

In fact, over washing can irritate acne. There are many, many useless \’treatments\’ on the market and many, many old wives\’ remedies, but any good skin expert would tell you that there is no known cure for acne and that the patient should follow a deliberate regimen of cleaning until the acne just \’disappears\’ of its own accord.

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